Today I’m sharing a variation of the Peplum Top pattern by In The Folds/Peppermint Magazine. You may have seen this top a few times before, either on Instagram or in one of my monthly WIP posts. I started it last Fall, just as it was starting to get cold outside. So, when I hit a fitting snag, I just set it aside. I finished it back at the end of February and just now sharing it with you. Better late than never, right?

I used the Peplum Top pattern designed by In The Folds for Peppermint Magazine. It’s a free pattern and has been pretty popular. I’m a big fan of In the Folds' designs because they always have really interesting design details that are also very wearable. This top features panels at the shoulders, a curved front neck and a V in the back as well as a peplum at the hem. I initially added 6” to the length of the bodice because I’m 5’11” and carry a lot of height in my torso. After I got it sewn together most of the way, I felt like the proportions between the peplum and the bodice were off. So I cut a few inches off the bodice and made a longer peplum. But, I didn’t like that either. In the end, I think I’m just not a ruffled peplum person. So instead of the peplum, I sewed a flat hem band to the bottom of the top.

I made a size E, which matches my bust size exactly. I’m really happy with the fit now that I have that peplum issue figured out. I sewed most of this a few months ago and as I recall, the only construction change I would make is to sew the side seams of the peplum and then gather it to fit the bodice. My fabric is a little sheer so I hand basted an underlining to the fabric before sewing everything together. I've tried machine basting an underlining before and it just never works as well as when I hand baste it. It seems like it would take longer to hand baste but it works so much better that I think it's actually faster. To finish the seams, I simply used pinking shears which I think it looks really pretty on the inside. Because my fabric was so lightweight, it was a little tricky finishing the neck opening with it. In retrospect, I think some spray starch on the bias strips would have helped.

I love the V in the back. It's kind of unexpected and not too low that your bra might show, making it a very easy top to wear.

The fabric is a very lightweight cotton from The Fabric Store in Los Angeles. The last time I was in the store, they had run out of this print but they have lots of really pretty fabrics and will even mail you swatches. I really like the design of the print on this fabric. I think it looks like abstract mountains. (Disclosure: I have a partnership with The Fabric Store and received this fabric free. All opinions are my own.) The underlining fabric is an inexpensive, lightweight fabric from Michael Levine in downtown LA. I don't recall exactly what kind of fabric it is but I like to stock up on it and buy 5 or 6 yards at a time in white and black.

Now that the weather is turning warmer, I’m sure I’ll be wearing this top a lot. Here I’m wearing it with my Alexandria Trousers (blogged here) and elastic strap Birkenstocks. Have you made this pattern yet? Are you planning any summer tops?

DISCLOSURE

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I spent months planning my wardrobe for my trip to Copenhagen (see my initial moodboard from way back in February here) and of course I was still making things at the last minute. On my last two big trips to Europe and Japan, I found the weather to be too cold for my wardrobe, which is really not surprising considering I live in Los Angeles where it’s basically summer all year round. So for Copenhagen in early May I wanted to be extra prepared. I had made a turtleneck using the Piper Top pattern but the fabric and cut are a little drafty to satisfy my warm layer goals. I wanted something that would be a closer fit with a softer fabric and this top jumped into my sewing queue.